Correlation between genetic polymorphisms and stroke recovery

Methods

Genotypes were determined in 255 stroke patients who also received behavioral evaluations in the Glycine Antagonist In Neuroprotection (GAIN) clinical trials.

The primary outcome measure was recovery during the first month post-stroke, as this is the time when neural repair is at a maximum and so when genetic influences might have their largest impact.

Two secondary outcome measures at 3 months post-stroke were also examined.

Results

Genotype groups were similar acutely post-stroke.

Presence of the ApoE ε 4 polymorphism was associated with significantly poorer recovery over the first month post-stroke (P = 0.023) and with a lower proportion of subjects with minimal or no disability (modified Rankin score 0–1, P = 0.01) at 3 months post-stroke.

Indeed, those with this polymorphism were approximately half as likely to achieve minimal or no disability (18.2%) versus those with polymorphism absent (35.5%).

Findings were confirmed in multivariate models.

Results suggested possible effects from the val66met BDNF polymorphism and from the R0 mitochondrial DNA haplotype.